If It Was Real: 260-Game Report

The thing about the "law of averages" is that sooner or later, many people turn out to be average. We've learned this the hard way at local poker tournaments lately.

In our last 20 games (not counting the cash games in Florida), we've made the final table six times. That's not bad, but below our average which has hovered close to 40 percent. And in the last 20, we only cracked the top five three times -- never finishing above fifth, and tying for fifth on two of those occasions.

So using our longstanding formula, here's how a real plunk-down of money in casino tournaments would look now....

BUY-INS: 260 nights x $50 = $13,000

First -- 5 ($2,500)
TIE for first: 1 ($450)

Second - 8 ($3,200)

Third -- 9 ($2,700)
TIE for third: 1 ($250)

Fourth - 10 ($2,000)
TIES for fourth:
4 two-way ($600)
1 three-way ($67)

Fifth -- 14 ($1,400)
TIES for fifth:
4 two-way ($200)
1 three-way ($17)

TOTAL -- 58 for $13,384

We've fallen from a "return on investment" in the 50-percent range to barely breaking even. Clearly we're feeling some personal pressure to turn this around -- but what should we do? Any advice??